WASHINGTON (CNN) - The U.S. House on Tuesday passed the so-called "cut, cap and balance" measure backed by conservative Republicans that would impose strict caps on all future federal spending while making it significantly tougher to raise taxes. The plan opposed by President Barack Obama now goes to the Senate, where Democrats are expected to defeat it.

soundoff(20 Responses)

Every new House sets its' own set of rules. This is the first order of business every two years for each new House.

Article 1, Section 5, of the Constitution
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.

I see two problems with this legislation requiring a 2/3 vote to raise tax rates. The first problem may or may not be a problem at all. But, it amounts to the majority party changing the rules in the middle of the game. It's unfair, but I am not sure if it is legal. The second problem I see is that the current House is setting the rules for any and all future Houses, which seems to contradict the US Constitution where it clearly states that each House sets its' own rules.

July 19, 2011 08:38 pm at 8:38 pm |

Frank B. Amyx

Why is it that the only people that recognize the only way to balance the budget fairly is to raise taxes on the wealthy are the working class? The wealthy manipulate the stock market robbing the 401k plans as a result of congress initiating the 401k plans to begin with. The wealthy pay bribes to congress to get laws that favor their robbing the working class.
The claim that the wealthy never pay much tax even when it was 50 percent or higher by using tax credits and deductions tells the same story. It is time for the wealthy robber baron's to pay for they habits or lose the great country that allows them to do so.

July 19, 2011 08:48 pm at 8:48 pm |

Frank B. Amyx

Do people not realize that too much money to invest in anything causes inflated prices that lead to adjustments some how by the wealthy that pay attention and find ways to get their grubby hands on the extra cash?

July 19, 2011 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

Four and The Door

This is what leadership looks like. Leadership with Main Street, the American taxpayer, the unemployed and future Americans in mind. Harry Reid and Barack Obama will find plenty of excuses to not pass this bill. But they will offer nothing that accomplishes anything close to what this will. Just excuses.

July 19, 2011 08:51 pm at 8:51 pm |

Russell Brown

How can two walk together except they agreed
Brother let us walk together in unity.
It is the complete solution of all the difficulties
But weather american will here or forbear
Let us renew our pledges to the cause of humanity and
spare no effect to make this truly the land of the free .

Abolish offshore banking and also tax charities at 2.5 % of their net worth

July 19, 2011 09:12 pm at 9:12 pm |

Hammerer

Agree with the GOP freshmen congress or not they are standing by their promises thet they made to win the seat. That is one thing that the Washington politicans do not understand and very few are guilty of making their word good.
The most of the Washington political crowd lives by the rule "say what ever it takes to get a vote and do as the group leader says".
That was a promise "change the way business is done in Washington" Obama made to the citizens but you know what path he has taken!

July 19, 2011 10:01 pm at 10:01 pm |

Squigman

Theater, and nothing more. Trying to appeasethe T.E.A. party with bogus moves. Same thing they've done to the entire country since 1998.

July 19, 2011 11:00 pm at 11:00 pm |

Barbara Coady

This is a complete and total waste of time and I hope every citizen – regardless of ideology – will see this for exactly what it is: a fight between 5th graders over who's got cooties – a "say, Uncle!" scuffle – but with more grandstanding than a traffic cop at a 3-way (at the corners of Dewey, Foolum + Hyde) and fake as a WWF grudge match. Except they're playing Russian Roulette with our reputation (hovering at so so) and crippled economy (gold @1600/oz). *faceplant*

July 19, 2011 11:11 pm at 11:11 pm |

Patrick from Minnesota

Boehner's chamber has truely become the Opera house of representatives. This is nothing more than political theatre. Oh well, they'll be back in their deserving minority in 2012.

July 19, 2011 11:23 pm at 11:23 pm |

Peter s

Cut, cap and balance! simply means CUT GrandMa and GrandPa Social Security and because we are CAP " Christian Against Poverty" we going ahead and burden more the American Middle class and that will help to balance the budget. Mr. President Vetto it and if they it back vetto it and shove it on boehner.

July 19, 2011 11:24 pm at 11:24 pm |

GOP should be fired (a Republican calling them out)

This is political posturing. Why counld they come up with this before? Time to make another donations to the dems.

July 20, 2011 12:01 am at 12:01 am |

ABM

Their paychecks should be withheld b/c I do not see these folks doing anything meaningful for this country.

July 20, 2011 12:03 am at 12:03 am |

hozo1, Cleveland

cut, crap and out of balance ... fiddling while the U.S. is burning ... tea party go to hell and a word to every incumbent ... you are fired!!

July 20, 2011 12:04 am at 12:04 am |

MikeH

Adolph Hitler would be proud of the Republicans, they're his kind of people.

July 20, 2011 01:10 am at 1:10 am |

Marry

The GOP/TP does it again. The list of useless ideas they try to install is getting longer and longer. The voter should not forget these “NO SOLUTION”, deceiving, mud throwing, backward GOP people in the House where they should be working for the people not just trough one fit after the other. So Disgusting!

July 20, 2011 01:19 am at 1:19 am |

fmac

another dog an pony show, what a waste of time.

July 20, 2011 07:28 am at 7:28 am |

The Greedy Old Pigs have declared class war on US!

More like the cult of cap and balance. It is intellectually and morally dishonest to believe a government (a) shouldn't grow along with its population and needs and (b) that the only way to accommodate that growth is to slash government or starve it of revenue.

July 20, 2011 07:48 am at 7:48 am |

Ed

House passes the bill and the senate will not and if they did Obama would VETO.

When will the people that we elected listen to what we are saying the majority of the voters want this passed.

Do you job you were elected to do listen to what we are saying what we want.
NO MORE SPENDING PERIOD.